Published: July 31, 2007 01:49 pm      

Peterson inks deal with Vikings

Staff Reports



Palestine’s Adrian Peterson officially is a Minnesota Viking.

Peterson, a 2003 Palestine High School graduate, ended his brief holdout by signing a contract with the Vikings Sunday. The contract is for five years at $40.5 million with $17 million guaranteed.

Peterson was in Viking training camp Monday in Mankato, Minn. after missing three days due to the holdout.

“I just want to say I’m happy to be here at camp, just being on the field and being able to interact with my teammates,” Peterson said during a news conference after Monday’s morning practice. “The fans are showing me so much support and everything so I’m just happy to be here.”

Peterson went on to talk about the signing process.

“It was a tough experience just sitting there waiting for that call with my contract to be finished,” Peterson said. “Just being the type of competitor that I am, I was ready to come to camp. But there is always a business side to it, so that side took care of itself.”

Peterson said he was excited to be in his first practice.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have butterflies at all,” Peterson said. “That’s all part of it, but once I got out there, I got comfortable and got loose and it was all having fun again.

Peterson was the seventh overall pick by the Vikings in the April NFL draft.

Peterson’s road to the NFL started in Palestine, where he was the star running back for the Palestine Wildcats as a junior and senior and was the top college recruit.

Peterson spent three years at the University of Oklahoma including being runner up for the Heisman Trophy his freshman year.